Padres claim INF Jarrett Hoffpauir from Toronto

The Padres launched what figures to be a busy off-season Wednesday by claiming infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir off waivers from Toronto and designating catcher Chris Stewart for assignment.

The 27-year-old Hoffpauir was a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 draft. He appeared in 13 games for the Blue Jays this season -- 11 at third and two at second -- and hit .206 (7-for-34) with one double, one run scored, two walks and five strikeouts.

Hoffpauir hit .295 in 107 games for Triple-A Las Vegas with 26 doubles, six triples, 16 homers and 73 RBI. He also drew 58 walks (against 34 strikeouts) and had a .376 on-base percentage with 73 runs scored.

Hoffpauir has played in 21 major league games (with a .217 average) against 766 minor league games (.284, 62 homers and 46 steals in almost 3,200 plate appearances).

Stewart, 28, was signed as a minor league free agent last December and spent most of the 2010 season with Triple-A Portland (.248, 14 doubles, seven homers, 39 RBI in 85 games). He was promoted to the Padres at the end of the Pacific Coast League and appeared in two games as a defensive replacement.